I am from Singapore and would like to grow sweet grapes in my highrise building with sunlight access for 8 hours per day. Have read that most plants on sale in Singapore are sour grapes, I have read about sweeter grapes from Malaysia Saloma vineyard, I am considering IAC as a starter variety for my grape project. I hope they are easy enough for "beginners" like myself. Maybe Dr Looi would like to share his views on what would be a good starter variety for the less experienced grape growers.

By the way, I had recently bought a grape plant, but I am not sure what variety it is. Maybe the most experience folks could help me identify the current cutting that I have now. Don't want to end up investing too much time on a sour grape variety.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/9399542725_bf408ec0c3_c.jpg

I am from Singapore and would like to grow sweet grapes in my highrise building with sunlight access for 8 hours per day. Have read that most plants on sale in Singapore are sour grapes, I have read about sweeter grapes from Malaysia Saloma vineyard, I am considering IAC as a starter variety for my grape project. I hope they are easy enough for "beginners" like myself. Maybe Dr Looi would like to share his views on what would be a good starter variety for the less experienced grape growers............................................../snip
..

The IAC is not that difficult to grow. The fruits are small but sweet. White Malaga as well as the other sweet varieties are very difficult to grow as heavy rain will kill the plants. Your grape plant looks like the Isabella. The Isabella grapes are sour with a funny taste, not very nice to eat. Even the birds will not eat my Isabella grapes. I have to cover all the sweet varieties to keep them from being eaten by birds. I have thrown away all my sour varieties like the Isabella.

The IAC is not that difficult to grow. The fruits are small but sweet. White Malaga as well as the other sweet varieties are very difficult to grow as heavy rain will kill the plants. Your grape plant looks like the Isabella. The Isabella grapes are sour with a funny taste, not very nice to eat. Even the birds will not eat my Isabella grapes. I have to cover all the sweet varieties to keep them from being eaten by birds. I have thrown away all my sour varieties like the Isabella.

So I guess I should work on an IAC. Thanks. Wondering what to do with the Isabella... ponder.

Not sure about the IAC. I've seen grape plants at world farm before - not sure if thats sweet though.

There are a few malaysia grape frowers and they offer sweet grape cuttings. I have no been to World Farm but will drop by one of this day. Looks like it's one of the more establiahed stockist for gardening and green growing community.

The nurseries sell grape plants with 2 types of leaf shape. I bought a small plant 3 weeks ago. As it was the only plant left, I just took what's available.

After reading through this old thread that Vitis labrusca produces sour grapes, I quickly check the leaf shape of my plant against the leaf shape of Vitis labrusca and Vitis vinifera. As my grape leaves & tendril structure correspond with those of Vitis vinifera, there is still some hope of getting mildly sweet grapes if my vine can fruit eventually.

Just to share my grown up Isabella from 2013. Recently is had begun to grow fruits. It's relatively sweet, with slip-skin.
https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12990995_10153459626431994_1901897323565401048_n.jpg?oh=1bef835460317fdabd4b4cc72c6b8e6e&oe=57ABCFEA
https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13029671_10153468361371994_1947541291063255898_o.jpg

Just to share my grown up Isabella from 2013. Recently is had begun to grow fruits. It's relatively sweet, with slip-skin.
https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12990995_10153459626431994_1901897323565401048_n.jpg?oh=1bef835460317fdabd4b4cc72c6b8e6e&oe=57ABCFEA
https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13029671_10153468361371994_1947541291063255898_o.jpg

Interesting to see grapes grown in Singapore successfully. Can you share on the growing conditions and your experience with fruiting? Thks.

Interesting to see grapes grown in Singapore successfully. Can you share on the growing conditions and your experience with fruiting? Thks.

I grow it in my HDB flat, corridor facing North. I have sun from April to October each year. The other times, reflected sunlight from opposite block.
To enable fruiting, fertilise it about 1 month well with compound fertiliser (e.g. sheep poo pellet) before pruning it. Prune at the 1-year old branches to induce fruiting.

I bought three pots of grapevine from World Farm 4 months ago and they are growing well. World Farm has a lot of grapevine available for sales at $6 for the small pot. Find the ones that look healthy.

I made a DIY trellis for the grapevine and will write a blog on my progress later. I water them twice everyday. The green cane has hardened and become brown in colour. However, my south facing balcony does not have any sunlight from Mar to Sep. I hope by October, when there is sunlight, I can fertilizer it and prune the cane to induce the grapevine to flower. Keeping my fingers crossed then.